IKK alpha, Active

IKK? is a serine/threonine protein kinase that phosphorylates the I-kappa-B protein which is an inhibitor of the transcription factor NF-kappa-B complex. Phosphorylation of I-kappa-B protein triggers the degradation of the inhibitor via the ubiquitination pathway, thereby activating NF-kappa-B complex (1). IKK? is an essential regulator of NF-kappa-B-dependent gene expression through control of promoter-associated histone phosphorylation after cytokine exposure (2). IKK? is a critical component of the cytoplasmic transductional-transcriptional processor leading to induction of IFN? production. IKK? is also involved in the epidermis where it antagonizes mitogenic and angiogenic signals and represses tumor progression and metastases.